Patients' experiences of telenursing follow-up care after bariatric surgery

Telenursing in the postoperative period: a scoping review

OBJECTIVES

to map available evidence on telenursing use in the postoperative period and its impact on patient outcomes.

METHODS

a scoping review, conducted according to the JBI model and the PRISMA-ScR checklist. The search was carried out in the CINAHL, Embase, LILACS, PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases.

RESULTS

twelve studies were included, published between 2011 and 2023, 66.6% of which were in developed countries. Of the positive outcomes, we highlight improved levels of disability, autonomy and quality of life, lower rates of post-operative complications, pain and reduced costs. Telephone monitoring was the most widely used modality, but there were few studies in the pediatric context and in Brazil.

CONCLUSIONS

of the studies, 11 (91.6%) identified at least one positive outcome in telenursing use and none showed negative aspects in the postoperative period. The role of nurses in digital health needs further study.

Use of tele-nursing in primary care: A qualitative study on its negative and positive aspects

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the opinions of nursing professionals on the current limitations and future potential of digital tools in healthcare.

DESIGN

Qualitative and descriptive study.

LOCATION

The study took place during an asynchronous MOODLE course on the use of ICT in healthcare, specifically aimed at nursing professionals.

PARTICIPANTS

The number of nurses enrolled in the course was 150.

METHODS

A qualitative study was conducted focusing on the positive and negative aspects that telenursing can offer in the context of a Moodle training in new technologies for nurses. A thematic analysis was carried out following the method proposed by Braun and Clarke.

RESULTS

In the end 68 nurses participated in the forum. Their statements, opinions and perceptions were analyzed and 28 descriptive codes were obtained and subsequently categorized into positive and negative aspects.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses positively value the usefulness of digital tools and identify a wide range of benefits of telenursing in daily practice. At the same time, they point out crucial limitations that may slow down the adoption of telenursing, pointing to areas for improvement such as training and digital literacy of both patients and professionals. They consider that telenursing can humanise care, but insist on the need to prevent its use from increasing health inequalities.

Experiences of Telenursing in Overcoming Challenges and Applaying Strategies by COVID-19 Patients in Home Isolation: Qualitative Study in Primary Care

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant increase in the use of telenursing to provide care for patients at home. However, the quality of the patient experience when nurses rely on technology instead of personal contact has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to understand the perspectives of COVID-19 patients in home isolation who received telenursing from primary care nurses during the initial phase of the pandemic. A qualitative study was conducted that employed purposive sampling and involved semi-structured interviews via videoconference with fourteen COVID-19 patients from two primary health centers in Catalonia (Spain). Thematic analysis was used, and the study adhered to the COREQ checklist. The findings revealed three themes related to the challenges faced by COVID-19 patients in home isolation: physical symptoms, emotional and social difficulties, and a lack of information. Three themes emerged regarding the strategies patients employed to overcome these challenges and the role of nurses: self-care, emotional support, and personal commitment. The patients reported having achieved strategies to improve their physical, psychological, and situational well-being despite the unprecedented situation. The study highlights that telenursing is a valuable resource for delivering patient-centered care, which could lead to changes in organisational policies and the development of best clinical practices.